Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-05-25
AIsuhiaaa ssssr rlaatatIsa Il tAs Old

y Leuhiana Sugar Plantation d The Old
Regina.
In the beginning Of 1898, when
GayOSo de Lemos was Governor oil
Louisiana the Bore plantation was
visited by three illustrious strangers,
the Duke OF Orleans and his two
brothers, the Count Of Deauiolais and
the Duke Of Montpensier, OF tho foy-.
house of France, who, driven into exile
sitter tho death of their father On Lac
scaffold, were striking examp1sa oA
those remarkable vicissitudea Of for
tune with which the annals of history
are 70 repletc. When a mousquetaire.
or guardsman, in the household troops
of Louis XIV, and watching over the
safety OF the Majesty of France, little
did Do Bore dream that the day would
come when three princes Of the blood
would be his guests on the bank Of the
Mississippi
This plantation was sagaciously and
tastefully laid out for beauty and pro-
ductiveness. The gardens occupied a
large area, and at once astopished the
eye by the magnificence of their shady
avenues Of orange-trees. Unbroken re-
treats OF myrtle and laurel defied the
rays of the sun. Flowers of every de-
scription perfumed the air. Extensive
orchards produced every fruit of which
the climate was susceptible. BY Judi
cious culture there had been obtained
remarkable success in producing an
abundance Of juicy grapes, every bunch
OF which, however, when they began to
ripen, was enveloped in q sack OF wire
to protect them against the depreda-
tons Of birds. The fields were cult
vated with such a careful observance Of
the variable ~exigencies of every sue
cessive season that there was no such
thing known as . short or half crop, or
no crop at oil. This was reserved for
much later days But under the adj
ministration of Etienne de Bore, dur
ing q period of about twenty-five years,
from the first ebullition OF q sugar
kettle Is 1896 to the time Of his death
in 1890, every crop was regularly the
same within . few hogsheads. When,
however, he ceased to exist, this seat of
order and prosperity became q chaos Of
disorder and ruin, and the estate finally
passed away from the family into tho
hands Of strangers.
1t was q self-suficient little domain,
exporting q good deal, and importing
but meagerly, 80 that the balance was
very much in its favor. 1t was largely
supplied with sheep and their wool,
with greese, ducks, turkeys, guinea
fowls. and every variety Of poultry
without stint. Eggs were gathered by
the bushel. Pigeons clouded the sun,
and when the small black cherries
called merises in French) were ripe,
those feathered epicnres ate them vo
~raciously, got royalty drunk, and fall
ing from the trees, strewed the ground
beneath. A umerou herd of cattle,
under the inspection OF old Pompey
and q black youngster called SOuris
I'm English mousse, on account of his
diminutiye figure, pastured luxuriously
and grew fat. What o quantity Of fresh
butter, rich cheese. milk, cream, and
clabberl Vast barns gorged with corn,
rice, and hay; hives bursting with
honey; vegetables without measure,
and 30 luscious a varied and liberal
supply Of carriages always ready for
use, and horses for the saddle or for
driving, all glossy and sleek; spirited
mules. well-fed and well-curried-the
pride Of the field hands: shrimps and
fish from the river; multitudos of craw-
fish from the deep bitches;
and opossums to gladden. the heart of
the most surly negro. Bore had made
OF his estate both farm and plantation.
The discipline established on it was a
sort Of military one. At dawn, when
1t was time to go to the field and to
the other labors of the day, the big
bell rang. The whole gang Of negroes
to the house, in front Of which
oil kneelcd, and a short prayer
said, always in the presence Of q
male member Of the family, who stood
up with head uncovered. The same
was performed in the even
before they went to their supper
and their rest for the night Charles
Gdydrre, IN Harper's Magazine.